The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1887-01-16
SAUNDERS WIFE.

0f gold, in the mellow autumn haze, and
the bare brown field, where it dipped with
. following bend to the black pine woods,
was fringed with . crimson hue OF sumach
and notified hedge OF fiery blackberry
bushes and plumes OF golden red glowing in
between
From the open door Of the kitchen the
path stretched away to the high rail fence
that hemmed in the vegetable garden, the
pride Of old man Saunders' life. Pots and
pans glittered ON the walls, bright - the
day outside. Due to Viney's nimble fingers
all this neatness and polish tpoo. little
brown, spare thing, they had laden her with
the stately name OF Lavinia, albeit soon
corrupted into the more twangsome
'Vineyl. Not old Saunders second wife
would il be who would take all that trouble
securing and Frightening. See her stand
ing now with q watchful eye to the back of
the house and wetchful ear for the front,
whence no sound comes, her fine brown
arms le<xs brawny, because less hard worked,
than thsse of her class, loosely twisted in
her rufiled apron, and the color warm in
her audaciols cheeks.
A deft throw of pebble, neatly aimed
against the fence, and then head appears
over the top Of il and q man drops down
ON the inner side, jumping clear Of old
Saunders cabbage heads.
Saunders wife stands still as the man
saunters up and stops within foot of her,
giancing round the corner to the front OF
the house
They're all out" she says. Saunders
is gone to the cider press over to Desnss
and Lavineys some where else. p"
Newer mind where, y laughs the fellow
When 'Viney comes back she finds joe
sitting in the parlor. AT sight of him her
small pinched face gets red, and from red
to sallow again
s'I've been waitin' for you," he says.
'.waitin' tor mes'' 'Viney il overcome
with eonfusion-not at the words alone, hut
ut the look of his bold, blue eyes. How tall
and big he seems, towering there before
her. 'Viney finds her ideas all deserting
her. She can only fiutter, Where's TillS''
Il don't care about TIL lies the man
.'And hs has got 'viney's meagsr hand in
his soa,ehow And 'Viney hears a great
rushing in her ears and her heart thumps up
into her throat, and il flashes through her
poor inexperienced little brain that she will
faint from too miich happiness when she is
conscious of her head lying firmly supported
against the broad front of Joes rough
coat OF course, in these conditions, she
cannot look up into his face.
And for the sublimity OF her bliss at that
moment, il il just well.
You will tell the old man, he says, thus
respectfully alluding to her father.
Yes, ssys 'Viney, seeing no disrespect,
and hanging her head for shy abundance VI
felicity and embarrassment.
TIL is STOPPING among the late geraniums
by the front gate when he passes by With
out raising her head much
''Wells" she asks
II done IL, " he returns, screwing his
mouth into something between . laugh
and u snecr and . grimace Of disgust.
He is going down the lane and Till ia lean
ing over the gate with red spray of geran-
ium in her black hair and the glow of the
sunset ON her face, when old Saunders
comes up from the opposite direction.
What's that loafer doin' heres'' he
cries, scowling from his wife to the retreat
ing figure, with flashes of evil fire from
under his gray, overhanging eyebrows.
'Viney sees the look and hears the words
and, knowing her father, understands the
cause.
Father she falters, and beckons to
him from the door. Father, he comes for
met And she bushes to the roots Of her
pale, dnll, brown hair.
Old Saunders looks from one to the
other woman The elder laughs
"Ye amt very complimentary to yer
own daughter, MIR. Ssunders,'' with . fash
of all her white, even. pointed teeth
What makes ye think the felIers is all after
mes''
Come, now, none o. your foolin',''
growls old Saunders, feeling small and
talking large and sitting down to his sup
per 'Viney brings his cup Of hot tea and
cuts a slice of bread, holding the large loaf
against her slight young figure Saund
ers' eyes travel up it slowly, till they rest ON
the small saliow face. 'Viney has never
been thought much to lock at. But ''ef
anybody's took shine to her he ken have
her Don't want ole maids round me-
So many ole catsp'
What's this ere loafer a. your'n do fur
his livin'"' he grunts.
But here Viney once more colors, but
painfully this time, all over her meek feat
ures.
HIM with a laugh Of derision. Guess
he don't make u nigger o. himselfl Wesidin'
won't be to- morrer. most likely
And Saunders, in solitary enjoyment Of
his delicate joke, shifts his stump of black
pipe around to the other corner of his un-
savory, toothless old mouth.
Till, looking like . black eyed fury in
her anger and her loathing, pushes open the
path again.
Fools! Fools both of them, And more
fool ME To have took ON with them!"
She opens the gate and let's it carefully
swing TO behind her ami continues down
the lane a few PAGES. thick October
mist is rising over the valley. The October
moon hangs i'm tho sky like big yellow
lamp swinging between the branches of
the tall black pines. There is no sound 50
near or far save the endless rssping and
singing OF the katydids. As she retracss
her steps u gay looking girl with features
hard even in the moonfi ght goes by with
man.
Say. Joe's late tonight to see 'vineyy'
she asks, and she laughs
''You shut up.' is the response Of Saund-
srs' wife. And she turns In to the gars
with q face blacxer than before.
''How's her pop like hims" the other
throws back over her shoulder. And the
sound Of their laughter dies down the road.
When the lights wcre all out in the house
. night or two later the little attic window
softly opened and Whey leaned out. How
ssfll the ni-as was! How thick and son
ths mistl Beyond ths valley and the river
soundsd tbs distans rumble Of train The
moon had crspe highs than ths highsse